Strong In The SaddleYour seat starts on the ground.
A steadier seat, a quieter leg and more even left and right sides, built at home in three 20–30 minute sessions a week. Written by a strength coach who has been in the saddle her whole life.
Instant PDF download · One-off payment, no subscription · Bonus: the illustrated Rider Exercise Library is included
You've had the lessons. Your body still won't do what your coach is asking.
- Your lower leg swings the moment you ask for canter.
- You collapse to one side, and one stirrup always feels longer.
- You grip with your knees or brace through your lower back to stay on.
- You start tall and finish slumped, right when you need to sit up.
- Your horse drifts, and you're starting to suspect it isn't all him.
- You get off stiff and sore, and it takes longer to shake off each year.
"Your horse can only be as balanced as you are."
If you collapse to one side, grip with your knees or brace through your back, your horse has to work around you. Lessons teach you what to do in the saddle. Strength gives you the body to actually do it. You need both, and only one of them happens off the horse.
This is completely fixable. You're not broken, you're just uneven, and that's normal. You don't need a gym, fancy equipment or hours you don't have. You need about 25 minutes, three times a week, a bit of floor space, a chair and a willingness to be honest about where you're starting from.
Six weeks. Three phases. Every exercise earns its place in the saddle.
You start with a simple rider self-assessment so you know exactly where you stand, including which side is weaker. Then you work through three progressive phases, and re-test at week 6 so you can see the difference, not just feel it.
Foundation
Switch your deep core and glutes back on, open up tight hips and learn to feel your weaker side. Effort stays comfortable while your body learns the patterns.
Build
More single-leg and single-arm work, longer holds and a little more load. This is where your sides start to even up and your posture holds for longer.
Ride-Ready
Balance, control and endurance that carry straight over to your position. Finish with the re-test and a clear plan for where to go next.
Fit the sessions around your riding, work and family. Ride days, rest days and busy weeks are all planned for.
Two beautifully designed PDFs, yours to keep
6-Week Rider Strength Plan
- Why riders need strength, explained in plain English
- Your rider self-assessment, with a re-test at week 6
- Three phases of sessions with sets, reps and effort targets
- Easier and harder options for every exercise
- A 5-minute pre-ride warm-up you can do at the mounting block
- A post-ride cool-down
- How to even up your weaker side
- Printable weekly trackers to keep you honest (nicely)
Rider Exercise Library
All 33 exercises, illustrated, one to a page, so you never have to guess. Each one shows you:
- In the saddle this helps you… (the reason it's in your plan)
- Step-by-step how-to
- The key cues I'd give you if I were standing beside you
- Common mistakes to watch for
- An easier and a harder version
- A quick-reference index by body area
Probably nothing you don't already own
Instant download. Read on your phone or print it for the tack room.
Made for everyday riders
This is for you if…
- You ride for the love of it: dressage, jumping, eventing, trail, pleasure or pony club.
- You're getting back in the saddle after kids, injury or a few years off.
- You want a deeper, steadier seat and fewer aches when you get off.
- You'd rather train at home than join a gym.
- You can find about 25 minutes, three times a week.
- You want to know why each exercise matters for your riding.
It's not for you if…
- You're after a quick fix. This is six weeks of honest, steady work.
- You need rehab for a current injury. Start with your physio, then come back to this.
- You want riding lessons. This is the strength that makes your lessons stick.
- You want a coach checking in on you daily. This is a self-guided plan.
Hi, I'm Jordan Schouten.
I've been riding for as long as I can remember, and I've been coaching people to get stronger for 20 years. I hold a Master's in Exercise Science and Strength & Conditioning, and I'm a mum, so I know exactly how little spare time there is between work, kids and the horse.
Somewhere between all those early mornings at the barn, I realised the riding world and the strength world don't talk to each other nearly enough. We spend a fortune on saddle fitters, farriers and physios for our horses, then climb on with a stiff back and a weaker side we've never noticed.
Strong In The Saddle is everything I'd teach you if we trained together: rider-specific, honest and doable at home. Warm hugs when life gets in the way, and hard truths when you need them.
Warm hugs (and hard truths), Jordan
Good questions, honest answers
Does it suit my discipline?
Yes. The plan targets what every rider needs: seat stability, independent aids, even left and right sides, hip mobility, posture and a springy lower leg. It's written for dressage, jumping, eventing, trail and pleasure riders.
I'm not very fit, older, or coming back after a break. Can I do it?
Yes. You start with a self-assessment, and every exercise has an easier and a harder option. Phase 1 is deliberately gentle, so the right version is always the one you can do with good form. If you have a health condition or a recent injury, please check with your GP or physio first.
How much time does it take?
About 20–30 minutes, three times a week, plus an optional 5-minute warm-up before you ride. Miss a session? Just do the next one. Progress isn't ruined by a busy week, only by quitting.
Do I need a gym or equipment?
No gym. You need floor space, a sturdy chair, a step and a wall. A resistance band and a dumbbell are handy but optional: water bottles or a bag of potatoes work too.
Can I train on days I ride?
Yes. Ideally do your session after you ride or several hours before. The plan includes a pre-ride warm-up you can do at the mounting block and a cool-down for afterwards.
How do I get it?
Straight after you pay, you'll land on a download page with both PDFs, and you'll get an email with your links as well. They work on your phone, tablet or computer, and you can print the trackers.
Is this a subscription?
No. It's a one-off payment of $27 AUD for both PDFs, and they're yours to keep. Payment is processed securely by Stripe.
Can I share it with my riding friends?
Please don't. It's licensed for your personal use. If your friends love what it's doing for you, send them here instead. It means a lot to a small business.
What if it's not right for me?
Because it's an instant digital download, I don't offer change-of-mind refunds. If your file won't open or something's wrong, email me at [email protected] and I'll sort it quickly. This doesn't affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
A quick safety note
This plan provides general exercise information for healthy adults. It isn't medical, physiotherapy or rehabilitation advice, and it doesn't replace an individual assessment. Please check with your GP or physio before you start, especially if you're pregnant or postnatal, or if you have a heart, lung or blood-pressure condition, osteoporosis, a recent injury, surgery or fall, or persistent pain. Stop and seek advice if you feel sharp or worsening pain, chest pain, dizziness or unusual breathlessness.
And in the saddle: always wear a correctly fitted helmet that meets current safety standards.
Six weeks from now, your horse will notice.
You already put the work in for your horse. This is the work for you: 25 minutes, three times a week, at home. Grab the plan, do your self-assessment, and start Session A this week.
Get the plan for $27 AUDIncludes the 6-Week Rider Strength Plan (43 pages) and the Rider Exercise Library (44 pages) · Instant download · Secure checkout by Stripe